2016 GMC Sierra 3500: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 GMC Sierra 3500: 7 recalls, 19 owner complaints.
Recalls
7 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #16V069000 · 2016 · 430,771 vehicles
What's wrong: On the affected vehicles, the brake pedal pivot nut May loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
Why it matters: If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver May be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal May also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall with an increased torque, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #16V651000 · 2016 · 3,640,162 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions May cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the sdm software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the sdm replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #17V437000 · 2017 · 40,683 vehicles
What's wrong: While being previously remedied for recall 16v-651, the affected vehicles May not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions May cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the…
Why it matters: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the sdm software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the sdm replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #18V578000 · 2018 · 42,280 vehicles
What's wrong: The brake pedal pivot nut May loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
Why it matters: If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver May be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal May also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition May increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the nut and reinstall the nut with increased tightness, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2018.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #19V088000 · 2019 · 18,574 vehicles
What's wrong: The fuel-level sensor in the front tank May stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front tank.
Why it matters: If the front tank overfills, the excess pressure May cause the front tank to expand and contact the driveshaft, possibly resulting in a hole in the tank. The hole will leak fuel, which in the presence of an ignition source, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Gm has notified owners, and dealers will replace the rear-tank fuel-pump module, inspect the front tank and, if necessary, replace the front tank, free of charge. The recall began July 30, 2019. Gm's number for this recall is n182204190.
Airbags Vehicle recall #21V504000 · 2021 · 410,019 vehicles
What's wrong: The roof-rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap May detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall May rupture.
Why it matters: A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left and right side rrab modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 18, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase i owner notification letters were mailed on May…
Airbags Vehicle recall #26V611000 · 2026 · 1,559 vehicles
What's wrong: The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (rrab) inflator end cap May detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall May rupture.
Why it matters: A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace both rrab modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 0 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (6): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Steering (6): the most common themes are steering problems (5).
- Engine (5): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Fuel & propulsion (3): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
The 2016 GMC Sierra 3500 has 19 owner complaints, ranking #15 of 31 Sierra 3500 model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 19). Complaints peaked in 2021 (3 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 27,500 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (31 complaints, 7 recalls), 2017 (13 complaints, 7 recalls).
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 GMC Sierra 3500.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 GMC Sierra 3500 have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 vehicle recalls for the 2016 GMC Sierra 3500. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 GMC Sierra 3500 problems?
Owners have filed 19 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (6), steering (6), engine (5).
Where can I get a 2016 GMC Sierra 3500 repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.